Chapter 171: Chapter 171
Braden POV
As a vampire, my vision is exceptional at night, and I have absolutely no illusion of what is transpiring between Mason and Elara.
The sounds coming from Elara are sounds of enjoyment, and even though she is a willing participant, I know it is not something she would have done. I do not know how Mason is doing it, but I am certain he is manipulating her into this. Elara is too loyal to her mates to cheat on them.
I stealthily move around the couch, standing behind Mason.
“What the hell are you doing?” I hiss, digging my nails into his neck, and yanking him off Elara.
“It’s not what it looks like,” Mason growls, his eyes glowing gold as he stands up and dusts himself off. “It’s consensual.”
“Braden,” Elara’s voice is small and insecure. “He helped me. I ... I have a headache.”
“See?” Mason asks smugly, raising his eyebrows. “I did nothing wrong.”
“You did something,” I hiss, stepping closer and dropping my fangs. “And I will figure it out. That’s a promise.”
“What’s the commotion about?” Kane and Axel storm into the living room. “Where’s Elara?”
Elara POV
Oh, dear Goddess, I want to curl into a bundle and die of shame and humiliation. The one moment I was dying from a headache, and the next, I was enjoying my ex-boyfriend’s caress. I am mortified.
What the hell is wrong with me? What is happening? This is so utterly confusing.
“Nothing happened,” I say, standing up, and I am on the verge of tears. I feel guilty about what happened, and the worst part, I am still not over it. If Braden had not come in, I would have allowed Mason anything and everything. “I had a headache, and Mason helped me. I was going to sleep on the couch, and then Braden came home.”
“Why are you covering for him?” Braden whispers, looking at me, stunned.
“Because I’m not about to wake the kids,” I reply softly. “I’ll tell them the truth, the same as last night. But later, when we’re alone.”
“How are you feeling now?” Kane asks, concerned.
“Better,” I smile weakly. Honestly, aches and pains are the least of my troubles right now.
“Okay,” Braden says, looking at Kane and Axel. “Since we’re all up, we might as well discuss strategy.”
“You have an update,” Kane states, walking over to me and protectively putting his arm around my shoulders.
“More like bad news,” he grunts.
“Let’s go to the kitchen,” I suggest. “I’ll make coffee while we talk.”
“You should take it easy,” Mason says politely. “Let me do it.”
“Nah,” Axel pats Mason on the shoulder. “You’ve been so helpful lately. I’ll do it.”
“Great idea,” Braden adds, and Mason does not look impressed.
We follow Axel to the kitchen, and Kane does not let me out of his sight. Axel starts the coffee as the rest of us sit down.
“Gustav is about to release the first test subjects,” Braden blurts out, and Axel nearly drops the kettle.
“You’re shitting me.” Kane gapes at him.
“I wish I were,” Braden exhales deeply. “And the worst part, their first mission would be to find you.”
“Elara and the kids must move immediately,” Mason snaps. “To another continent, if possible. They won’t be safe anywhere in this state. I’ll take them, we can leave ...”
Instinctively, I grab Kane’s hand. I am not going anywhere with Mason. I cannot be trusted to be alone with him. There is something wrong with me or my hormones, and until I figure out what that something is, I am staying with my mates.
“Calm down, Romeo,” Kane growls.
“Did you not hear what Braden said?” Mason glares at him. “You need to split up. Being around you and Axel places them in more danger.”
“How about I finish my update before we panic?” Braden says dryly, raising his eyebrows.
Mason looks like a pressure cooker which is about to explode, but he settles down and keeps quiet.
“The Council is charging Kane with Rhiannon’s murder,” Braden says stoically, and the blood drains from my face.
Like one, Kane, Axel and I turn to look at Mason.
“Why’s everyone looking at me?” Mason grunts, clenching his fists.
“Because you went to see her,” I say firmly.
“When?” Braden frowns.
“Saturday night,” Kane replies. “They had a date.”
“She was alive when I left,” Mason growls, his eyes flashing gold.
“Says you!” Kane explodes.
“Kane,” Braden says calmly. “The Council have physical evidence against you.”
“It couldn’t have been him,” I exclaim, half furious, half panicky. “We were with you, Braden. And then we were with the kids and Gabriela. There’s no fucking way Kane did this.”
“The Council doesn’t care, Elara,” Braden says sympathetically. “Blaming Kane helps their cause and justifies their actions.”
“Hold on,” Kane’s voice is low and dark. “What evidence?”
“Your hair and a pair of underwear,” Braden replies softly.
“You motherfucker!” Kane explodes, jumps up and reaches for Mason. “I’m going to kill you! You framed me!”
“Kane, no!” I jump up and throw myself against Kane’s chest, pushing him back. “You can kill him if he’s guilty, but don’t make things even worse.”
“I can’t explain the evidence, okay,” Mason says seriously. “I went to Rhiannon; we had red wine and talked. I left and visited Asher, then went home to you guys.”
“That’s not an explanation,” Kane growls, balling his fists as he fights his anger. “That’s a chain of events. You could’ve still planted the evidence between the red wine and a conversation. You could’ve killed her before you left.”
“I can’t explain what I don’t know,” Mason shouts. “I don’t know how your shit got there, because I didn’t put it there. I can’t tell you who killed her, because I wasn’t there.”
“Mason, you had access, opportunity and the means to do it,” Axel says calmly. “It’s hard to believe you didn’t do it.”
“Yes, I did,” Mason agrees. “But what was my motive? Please tell me that, because I can’t see how I would benefit from killing a witch and framing Kane. Think about it, framing him brings the Council closer to us. To me, Elara and the kids. You should know that about me right now. I wouldn’t do anything to endanger my kids and Elara.”
“Except for the time when you kidnapped them,” Braden snorts.
